I am beyond miffed to read all the negative comments hurled at Simone Biles. Really? Have people forgotten she was molested by her team doctor? All shame should go to the organization that protected her predator all these years. Simone suffered more trauma than most people will in a lifetime. Are people that shallow? Or are they so enamored with winning at all costs? I can’t comprehend this rush to label her a quitter or soft. We live in a messed-up world right now. I think those passing judgments have too much time on their hands. When is it ever okay to put your life at risk just for the sake of winning?
The ignorant non-gymnasts labeling her a Quitter are clueless on what could have occurred when Simone balked mid-air and accidentally did a 1.5 instead of a 2.5. Had she not landed on her feet, she could have suffered life-threatening injuries.
I am so proud of Simone for knowing her limits. In my opinion, she is deserving of praise, not disdain for her courage. Her track records and all she has done for the sports of gymnastics speak volumes. What she is going through right now might be insurmountable. Instead of condemnation, you would think people would sprint to help her instead.
I am hoping Simone will continue to thrive. Whether she continues with gymnastics is not more important than her mental health. She is not responsible for making her teammates gold winners. Why put that enormous responsibility on the shoulders of one person? Simone, you will always be THE GOAT, and you are a WINNER!
Perhaps I should not get too involved in this debacle with Meghan, Harry, and the Royal family. However, my heart and sense of justice will not allow me to ignore all that has surfaced since the interview with Oprah. So many questions have flooded my mind. Who would lie about having suicidal thoughts? Additionally, who would make up a story about concerns relating to skin color?
It boggles my mind to contemplate that Meghan and Harry are lying so they can get attention. I am open to the idea that Meghan and Harry have spoken the truth based on the history of colonialism in England. The monarchy is only concerned with preserving its’ image. It is certainly interesting how they went out of their way to protect Prince Andrew.
One of the most destructive things about social media is that lies spread like a spark set to dry grass while the truth doesn’t spread at all. The truth never goes viral. The truth never makes headlines. The truth never makes trending topics. Why do people continually promote falsehood? Why? Because it is juicy and scandalous. They make a killing by promoting hate and lies. Pierce Morgan comes to mind and many others. The bottom line, the media no longer reports the news.
I am a woman in an interracial marriage, and I know from firsthand experience that some people are quick to pass judgments. You can’t help who you love. To inquire about the darkness of someone’s skin has its’ roots in racism. I can imagine how hurt Harry and Meghan were . To allude that they made up the allegations is even more destructive.
The Royal family can’t continue to hide. How are they going to explain their lack of willingness to help Meghan? Who has something to gain from spreading lies? The British tabloids and the Royal family are working together. It is a matter of time before all comes to light. I hope Meghan and Harry will remain strong, and they will emerge victoriously in all situations moving forward.
I watched the interview with Oprah last night. I do believe that Meghan and Harry spoke the truth concerning comments regarding Archie’s skin color. Who would make up such a story? I can’t even imagine how both Harry and Meghan reacted. How low can one go to make such a statement? Yet, this is a reality that I think most interracial couples may face.
I Have nothing but respect for Harry for taking a stand. He had every right to move his wife and son from such a toxic environment. The British tabloids have always shown their true intentions by consistently publishing lies about Meghan. Yet, it appears Kate Middleton could do no wrong. A classic example: Middleton was described as glowing when she cradled her pregnant belly, while Markle was shamed for doing the same thing. A second example: Markle was criticized after her bodyguard asked fans not to take pictures of her at Wimbledon, but Middleton was recently called ‘down to earth’ when she didn’t allow pictures.
The double standard is visible for everyone to see. Why do people continue to criticize Meghan by calling her an opportunist? People have gone as far as saying she is the one manipulating Harry. The answer to that question is crystal clear. I believe it has to do with racism. When you have hatred for someone’s skin color, that hate is embedded deep into your heart and soul. You can try to hide that hatred, but sooner or later, it will come out. The individual that brought up concerns about Archie’s skin color could not help himself or herself. The truth is out in the open.
I am going to wait and see how the British tabloids are going to spin more lies. I am sure they never expected Harry and Meghan to tell the truth. There’s nothing more devastating than people judging you base on the color of your skin. I applaud Meghan for loving Harry. I certainly have respect for Harry too. You can’t help who you love. My husband is German and Scottish. I know firsthand what it feels like when someone judges you on your skin color. Lucky for me, my in-laws and his siblings treat me well. It is a sister-in-law that is racist.
I am keeping positive thoughts that Harry and Meghan will find peace and happiness moving forward. I am also hoping the Royal family will take a moment to reflect on their actions. They protected Prince Andrew but refused protection for Harry and Meghan. My wish for Harry and Meghan: Live happily, and forget the haters!
Last night I watched a movie on Netflix that invigorated my soul. The movie Septembers of Shiraz took place during the chaos of Iran’s revolution. The main character falsely imprisoned exemplified what can happen when people have humanity. People have become so self-absorbed that they allow themselves to inflict harm to others without blinking an eye. It saddens me deeply to observe the lack of humanity in plain sight. It appears that: .Hurt people hurt people .Broken people break people .Damaged people damage people .Wounded people wound people .Bound people bind people The question burning in my soul, how do we remedy such behaviors? In the movie, the main character used his humanity to have an honest talk with the man that imprisoned him. He lovingly confronted his abuser by asking him questions that awaked his sense of humanity. I believe that is what saved his life. In the end, the man responsible for imprisoning him allowed him and his family to cross the Turkish border to freedom.
Just like the main character in the Netflix movie, I, too, have been subjected to mistreatment. I have worked with many mean-spirited people that went out of their way to inflict harm. I often ask myself, what did I do to deserve such treatment? I learned after soul searching broken, and marginalized people often hurt others. These individuals develop self-hatred that they project to others around them. I did absolutely nothing wrong.
It is not easy putting up with people dead set on hurting you. So how do you proceed when confronted with such a situation? I am no angel, but I had to dig deep into my Christian values. I could not ignore or remain disconnected from the needs of these individuals. Instead of trying to be too preoccupied with my hurt feelings, I surprised myself by having a heart-to-heart talk with one co-worker. After our conversation, he apologized. That exchange taught me a valuable lesson. Things are not always what they appear to be.
I want to be the person that makes a concerted effort to help and understand others. You can’t always control when people deliberately hurt you, but you can control how you respond to the hurt. Seeking revenge will only aggravate things. I hope and pray this pandemic will be over soon because people are hurting very badly. Suicide has gone way up, especially among teens. May we all regain our humanity so we can all live more peacefully!
Do you believe things happen for a reason? I believe God allows you to go through seasons and phases in your life for a specific purpose. Letting God guide you during each season can set you up for more success. God is so gracious because he gives us so many examples in the bible.
I love reading about Job’s season of hardship. He is a perfect example of how God can help us be victorious. No matter the season, God will always be there for us. Instead of getting angry and cursing God, Job trusted God’s faithfulness. We can’t allow negative thoughts to dominate our thinking when we do not understand why we are in certain situations.
There are huge benefits that come from God when you have endured seasons of maturing. For example, I did not care much when we were in lockdown due to Covid. Eventually, I learned to appreciate being home. I rekindled my love affair with God’s precious word. Instead of rushing to the gym and next to work, my morning rituals changed. I am now reading the bible and praying more than I have in the past. My relationship with my Heavenly Father grew.
Spending quality time with God is opening new doors. He is helping me see things in a new light. I am learning to have more compassion for others. So many people have lost their jobs and business due to Covid. I am happy I have a home and food to eat.
I am experiencing a maturing season. That maturity is establishing me to advance into the next phase of my life. I do not know what the future holds, but I am ready for it. During prayer, I ask God to prepare my heart for the next phase in my life. I want to follow God’s lead for my life. Staying connected to God is my guarantee for success.
What goals do you have? Are you ready for the new season in your life? Are you ready to let God transform you for the better?
I am thankful for the many blessings God has bestowed upon my life. I have also encountered many challenges. All Christians will encounter difficulties. God never said life on earth would be easy. 1 Peter 5:10 speaks loudly to my heart.
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. “
God loves us so much. Challenges help us trust him. Reading that verse reminded me of three occasions where God tested my faith. Each time, I thought my world would come crashing down. After suffering for a while, my faith in God grew because he allowed me to emerge victorious in each situation.
After I gave birth to my daughter, she ended up in ICU. She was born with meconium(the first fecal excretion of a newborn )in her lungs. The medical term is called Meconium aspiration syndrome. It is rare for a newborn to breathe a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid into their lungs. This syndrome is a leading cause of severe illness and death after birth.
Everyone in my church started to pray for a miracle, and sure enough, my daughter survived the ordeal. Imagine the turmoil I went through after giving birth? Instead of rejoicing and holding my baby, I had to watch her from the ICU window. I do recall praying too, but I also questioned God. Why me? Why are you testing my faith at such a joyous time? After my daughter made a full recovery, I stopped blaming God. Instead, I began giving him praise for sparing my precious bundle of joy from severe complications or even death.
God loves to test our resolve. He wants to see whether or not we can withstand what we must go through, so we can walk in the calling and destiny that he has for us.
Eighteen years after the birth of my daughter, God tested me again. This time my youngest son spent nine days in the hospital. He almost died because the doctors did not know what was wrong with him. After conducting many tests, a specialist diagnosed him with Lemierre’s Syndrome. Lemierre syndrome is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of bacterial infections that usually affects previously-healthy adolescents and young adults. I believe God heard my prayer and the prayers of everyone in my church. God worked mightily in the specialist too. Once diagnosed, my son was able to get the proper medications. Thankful my son survived, I spent many hours giving praise to God. My faith grew even more.
The third test shook me like a category five hurricane. In 2009, the principal at my school decided to cut expenses. I lost my teaching job. I applied for other positions in the district. After three months, I had not procured a new job. What I did not know is the principal had a personal vendetta against me. He placed my name on the “NO HIRE LIST.”
Now I knew why I was not getting any interviews. The assistant principal came to evaluate me several times. He knew that I was highly qualified in my field of French and Spanish. He acted on my behalf. He highly recommended me to a school that needed a French and Spanish world language teacher. I interviewed. Later the principal called to offer me the position.
God came to my rescue, and in the end, my faith grew in leaps and bounds. The icing on the cake, my new job is 20 minutes drive from my house. It took me an hour and thirty minutes to get to my old school.My former principal hired a new teacher to replace me. The principal tried to harm me. In the end, he did me a huge favor.
I am still teaching at the same school. After thirty years in the same school district, I will retire in May 2021. I am thankful I learned to trust God even during trials and tribulations. Dear reader, I hope my story has encouraged you to keep the faith. Know whatever storm you may encounter, God can carry you through.
If I had a magic wand, the first thing I would do would be to go back in time to erase all that took place at the onset of Covid-19. Covid-19 came in like a category five hurricane destroying everything in its’ path. The last time I had people over my house was for my husband’s birthday February 27th, 2020. The memories of that celebratory day still echo loudly in my spirit, as I have not been able to have anyone over for fear of exposure to Covid-19. Why 2020, did you have to come in and destroy our way of life? On March 16th, 2020, the unthinkable happened. Unfamiliar with online teaching, I had no choice but to start offering my classes remotely. Imagine that. Really? How am I supposed to teach AP French remotely? How can I effectively teach when some students do not have access to wifi? The problems most students encountered are too numerous to list. In short, remote teaching was not working out well. Teachers had a few days to become tech experts before they ventured out into the virtual teaching mode. I am a polyglot, I speak 4 languages fluently, but one thing I am not is tech-savvy. The learning curve has been steep. It took me several zoom meetings with the tech specialist before I could successfully conduct any of my classes. At times, I felt like a total idiot, some of my students came to my rescue since most of them are a lot more adept with technology than me. Yay, for the youth of today! I lived and studied in Strasbourg France when I was in college. That experience left an indelible impression on me. So, it was only natural, when I became a world language teacher, I wanted my students to experience the same benefit as I did. I have been taking my students on 10 days tour to France and Spain since 1995, but much to my dismay thanks to Covid -19, the trip for 2020 had to be canceled. So much work went into getting students signed up for the tour, and poof, just like that the trip had to be canceled. I heard of so many people dying due to Covid, but never in a million years did the thought ever crossed my mind that four members of my family would be among those who lost their lives to this horrible virus. Yes, Covid does not discriminate. Unforeseen situations in life often force one to look within to examine things more closely. Covid-19 cornered me like an unrelenting bully. My complaints with Covid pales in comparison with those that lost work, businesses, and loved ones. How are people going to recover? Now, a new reality has reared its’ ugly head. Are vaccines the answer? If so, why are so many people dying from the vaccine? Why so many side effects? Only time will tell if vaccines are the answer. A new day has dawned, 2021 arrived and we can only hope it will be better than 2020. I am keeping hope alive and remain resolute that the storm of 2020 has come to a screeching halt, and better days are ahead of us.
Have you ever wondered what might happen if you make a deliberate decision to face the truth about some areas in your life you have found challenging to overcome ?
In 2018, I learned to let go of the temptation to wallow in depressive thoughts because of destructive things others have done to me . Not everyone has your best interest at heart . Holding on to past hurts allows the perpetrator to continue to have complete control over you .
One of the hardest truth I learned is you cannot change the past or delete your life experiences . The only thing you can do is to take responsibility for how you process those experiences , and for any actions resulting from those experiences .
As you learn to manage the past and press forward , you will be amazed at what awaits you: peace of mind , more clarity to pursue your true calling and purpose . A popular adage says , “As a man thinks , so is he in his heart.” It is true , that perhaps letting go is not always easy . You may need help from a professional . That’s definitely okay . Seeking help is not a sign of weakness , but a display of courage . If you cannot afford to see a therapist , perhaps another viable option is to join a church group specifically designed to help deal with your specific situation .
In 2018, I made one of the wisest decision I have ever made . Even though I had a certain amount of trepidation . In short , fear almost stopped me from participating. I went ahead and joined the group despite my fears. We met weekly for 10 months . During those 10 months , I learned many valuable tips on how to not let my past experiences define who I become in the future .
A new me emerged .
Acknowledging the truth about your life is very freeing. I have learned to invite God into the depths of my heart and into the challenges of my past . Inviting him into my calamities has been like my daily oxygen that keeps me breathing . I have always been a believer in God , but sitting through the 10 months sessions raised my faith exponentially . Life has many challenges , but how we go about facing these challenges can either make or break you . We cannot allow the flames of fear to dominate our thinking. Let”s make a concerted effort to extinquish the burning embers of past hurt , so we can live our best life.
Have you seen the new TV show “Council of Dads” yet? If your answer is no, it is not too late to check out this timely show currently airing on NBC. Episodes 1-5 is available for viewing on Hulu, and the NBC App. The cast members include Sarah Wayne Callies, Clive Standen, Tom Everett Scott, J. August Richards, Blue Chapman, Emjay Anthony, Michele Weaver, Thalia Tran, Steven Silver, and Michael O’Neill In the pilot episode of “Council of Dads,” we meet the Perry family. The patriarch Scott Perry ( Tom Everett Scott) has a terminal illness. Before his passing the terminally ill father decides to recruit three of his closest friends to assist with fathering his five children and supporting his wife. The show tugs at your heart as we see the grieving family navigate through daily life. The three dads in the council are eager to help the family. I like the fascinating dynamic that exists among each family member. The oldest daughter (Michele Weaver) tries to come to terms with her father’s substance issues, a younger adopted daughter (Thalia Tran) searches for answers into her adoption story. A third daughter, who identifies as a boy (Blue Chapman ) has to learn to cope with prejudice against trans kids like him. The oldest son ( Emjay Antony ) acts like a typical teen who experiences emotional turmoil due to the death of his beloved father. In a time where people are dealing with Covid-19 “Council of Dads” offers hope for humanity. It is refreshing to see you do not have to be related by blood to be a family. I highly recommend watching the “Council of Dads.” To find out more about the show and schedules you can visit nbc.com.
Love Is ___ premiered June 19th, 2018 on the Oprah Winfrey Network. According to OWN and Nielsen, the show ranks as the NO. 1 show on cable. I am elated that Mara Brock Akil and her husband Salim shared their love story with the world.
If you were to ask the question: “What is love?” you would get a thousand different answers. The truth of the matter is, everyone deserves love no matter who they are. Unfortunately, not everyone gets to live a life filled with love. Many factors come into play when it comes to finding true love. Society places many norms that dictate who should find and keep love. Many believe your financial status and physical beauty are the two most important criteria that make one the perfect candidate for finding love. We have seen too many times that is not true at all, otherwise the rate of divorce among the rich and famous would be a lot less.
I have always been a fan of the Akils.When Sex In The City premiered and the show did not include black women, Mara Brock Akil took matters into her own hands and brought us the hugely successful show Girlfriends, and later the TV series The Game and Being Mary Jane. The Akils are committed to showing the world that black people matter and they too deserve to have their stories told.
Love Is___ resonates well with African American women as they can relate to the struggles the Akils encountered during their courtship. The Akils became a power couple in black Hollywood. Love Is___ is set primarily in 1990’s Los Angeles. It follows Nuri (Michele Weaver) and Yasir (Will Catlett), a couple from two different worlds. The story is told from the perspective of the couple’s present-day selves.
Yasir meets Nuri in a local coffee shop. Nuri breathes hope into Yasir’s life by encouraging him to not give up on his dreams of becoming a director/ producer for television. The two fall in love. Trouble and hardship ensue when Nuri and Yasir navigate around the highs and lows of falling and staying in love.
Society has not always been kind to the struggles and plight of the black male. We are conditioned to think they are less than their white counterpart, but with Yasir, we get to see a man who is struggling with being jobless and yet still manage to remain resolute in who he is as a man. I know more often than not society frowns on a man who depends on a woman to help him financially.
Nuri’s willingness to support Yasir financially while he is unemployed brings to light a conversation that black women have been forced to have for many years now. Are black women obligated to save the black male because society has made it very difficult for them to be successful? This is not an easy question to answer. Black women have it hard too. Slavery has done unspeakable damage to the psyche of black people. It is never easy to erase one’s past traumas.
It warms my heart that Love Is___ has opened many doors to talk about important issues in the black community. These conversations are vital and we must have them. In episode 8, Yasir takes Nuri to meet his mom and his son Deonte. Yasir’s ex-wife showed up to confront him. That episode exposed the daily reality of what single parenting is all about. Is Yasir less of a man because he is not a part of his son’s life? My answer to that question is a resounding NO. I think Yasir is a product of his environment. Yes, he is arrogant and full of pride; but he is a man who is searching for fulfillment in life.
Will Catlett, Salim Akil, Oprah, Mara Brock Akil, and Michele Weaver at the LA premiere of Love Is ____.
We all come to a relationship with specific needs. Nuri feels safe with Yasir so she is willing to overlook many of his shortcomings. During episode nine, we learned that her stepfather molested her at the age of 9 until she was 12 years old. Having suffered such abuse is bound to have devastating repercussions on one’s psyche. I believe this is why Nuri appears to be very gullible. She has a very kind heart and is an overachiever, and this is how in my opinion she deals with her past sexual abuse.
At the end of the day, I think we all need someone to believe in who we are, our humanity demand that we find that someone who will be by our side to help us win in life.
I believe we are all masterpieces in progress and the people we allow in our lives will help us transition into who we are destined to become.
Lastly, the Akils have once again given us another masterfully well-written TV series that allow the viewer to see events in the life of black people. Hopefully, by watching shows like Love Is ___we can all get inspired to have quality conversations that can help heal our past traumas.
If you would like to find out more about the lead actress Michele Weaver and male lead Will Catlett, check out their Instagram here and here.
Melange of Cultures 